Children put at risk by selfish motorists outside Rose Green

Michael Coleman said it was daft that more protection had to be given to drivers who parked badly in front of buildings such as Rose Green infant and junior schools than to the children who attended them.

"We've had some problems with parking outside schools," he told Aldwick's annual parish meeting last week.

"So we put plastic bollards on the verges and parents in 4x4s drove straight over them.

"We started to use small concrete bollards instead. Now, I'm told we can't necessarily put them in any more because of health and safety fears.

"If somebody hits a concrete bollard, and a splinter comes off and causes damage, then the county council could be done for it.

"I don't believe the world any more. It's health and safety gone crazy. I believe that if somebody hits a concrete bollard and suffers damage they will quickly learn the lesson."

The Observer has reported concerns about the problems caused by the amount of parking around the junior school on Raleigh Road and the nearby infant school on Hawkins Close.

Cllr Coleman's criticism of the situation came amid a general attack on selfish car owners in the area which included his Nyetimber ward.

He said the motorists who wrecked grass verges by leaving their vehicles on the grass strips were typical of the thoughtless mentality of too many people.

"It's a community problem," he fumed. "It shows people don't care any more. It's a respect thing. They want to park as close as they can to wherever it is that they want to go to."

He said highway issues were the biggest cause of residents' complaints to him. Within that category, the issue of parking on verges caused the largest number of letters and emails.

Aldwick Parish Council chairman Carol Wiseman said the verges along Aldwick Road had been ruined by the number of vehicles parked on them.

"The verges are in an absolutely appalling condition," she said.

Paul Wells, the county councillor for Bognor Regis West and Aldwick, said: "It is an increasing problem because the number of flats and bedsits along Aldwick Road is increasing and the residents need to park their cars somewhere."